Mechanism or apparatus for holding or transferring articles



F. M. FURBER. MECHANISM 0R APPAHATUSFOR HoLDlNG 0R TRANSFERRING ARTICLES.

APPLICATLON FILED DECZI. 191B.

1,438,481. y Patented 1360.121922.

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FREDERECK 3E. FURBER, GE REVERE, `ILVLSFSSAGELUSWFIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED` SHOE BIACHNEBY CORPORATEN, OF PATERSN, NEVJ JERSEY, A COBEOBATION 0F vNE JERSEY.

VECHANISM OR APPARATUS FR HDLDNG OR TRANSFER/RING ARTICLES.

Application filed December 21, 1918. SerialiNo. 267,784.

To @ZZ fte/tom t may concern Be it known that l, FREDERICK M. Financia, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the count-y of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Mechanism or Apparatus for Holding or rTransferring Articles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to mechanism or apparatus for holding` or transferring articles and is particularly designed for use in the manufacture of shoes for picking up pieces of material one at a time and delivering them in proper relation to other parts of a shoe in process of manufacture. As hereinafter specifically described by way of illustration, the invention is embodied in a type of picker in which the article or blank to be transferred is penetrated by a plurality of spurs which are movable relative to each other in order operatively to engage or to release the article. However, it will be apparent that the invention in its broader aspects, and even the particular form of mechanism shown, is capable of wide application. l

The primary object of the invention is to produce a novel mechanism of the character above indicated which will be simple, eiiicient and reliable both in construction and in mode of operation. With this and other objects particularly in view, the invention comprises certain combinations and arrangements of parts as well as various details of construction, which will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and the scope of which will then be defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

F ig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a picker constituting a preferred emi bodiment of the inventio;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the picker in a dierent position and with the ejecting foot omitted;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the picker constructed as shown in vFig. 2;

Fig. 4 Vis ya sectionaly plan along the line of lV-IV of Fig. 3,and

Fig. 5 is a detail. in perspective of one of the spurs.

The mechanism illustrated has been par` ticularly designed for` use as an element in a machine which applicant has invented for transferring soles, sheet lfiller material, etc., in the manufacture of shoes. vThe mechanism, however, may obviously be embodied in a simple tool supported and operated in the hand.

As illustrated, the picker'is intended to engage a sole, such as that designated 2, at the top of a stack 4, to remove the sole and deliver it at any desired location, as for eX- ample on the bottom of a lasted or vwelted shoe. The article orblank to be transferred is engaged vby two or more spurs shown separately in Fig. 5 and designated gener ally by the numeral 6. The'operative end of each spur is vformed as a chisel point 8 where vthe sides and bottom of the spur taper into the top surface l0. A stem 12 extends into a hole in the lower Vend of one of two pivoted levers la which have lateral wings 16 (Fig. 3) provided with slots 18,` the two vsides of-each slot Abeing constructed t0 be fore, raise, and then extend beneath, small lips or flaps 2l of the sole and secure a substantial hold or grip thereon.

rlChe levers "il, which constitute Carriers for the spurs, are pivoted upon a common fulcruin, pin 22, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. Above the fulcrum the levers are provided with projecting pins 23 which confine in place a compression. spring 24 interposed beween the two levers 14. The tendency of Ythis spring Yis to cause the spurs to move toward each other to release an article as shown in Fie. l. rlllie ulcruin pin 22 is slidable in a slot 26 in a biturcated end or head 28 oit a rod Se which thusconstitutes a carrier or slide to support the levers but is capable ot' longitudinal movement relative thereto. it the lower end of this head are Jiornied wedges 230 adapted to engage beveled surfaces 32 adjacent to the lower ends oit leveis A to torce them apart. Bearing against the upper ends ot the levers and surrounding rod 34 is a washer or' sleeve 36. il spring 38 is interposed between this washer and a collar il() fixed by a set screiv l2 to the rod 34. rllhetendency ot the spring 38, therefore, is to nove the head 2S oit the slide upward relative to the levers le into contact with the washer 36 and also to turn the upper ends ot the levers about the tulcrum pin 22 to bring the spurs at their minimum distance apart as shown in Fig. l. T he spring 2a is employed as already s* ested to supplement the spring 38 in moving the levers lll but the spring 38 alone may be sutlicient. As shown in Fig. 2, the head 28 is provided with a lateral lug le to whichr is pivoted at i6 a latch d8 constructed and arranged to engage a lug projecting laterally iti-om oneA ot the levers lll- This latch may be released through an arin 52 and, particularly it the picker is to be used as an element in a ina.- chine, as already suggested, the arm may be provided with a stop, such as screw 54, which is arranged to come into engagement with any suitable abutment 56 as the picker approaches delivery position whereby the latch i8 will be released and the springs 38 and 24 will torce the spurs toward each other to release the. sole.

Applicant has employed mechanism of this kind tor use in transferring sheet iiller material which is et a rather stickyy nature with the result that sometimes, when the spurs of: a picker such is showniii Figs. 2 and 3 are moved toward each other, the transferred article may still adhere to one or more of he spurs. Therefore, the picker 'when used tor handling articles ot this character is preferably provided with an ejector or stripper which is.

conveniently located in the space 60 (Fig. 3) between the lateral wings of levers if. his ejector, shown in Fig. l, comprises a toot 62 .having1 a shank Gaslidably secured to one oit the jaws 14 by screws 66 passing tirough slots 68 in the shank G41. il spring '70 contained in a socket in one et the levers let and bearing against the shank 64s tends to hold the ejector in projected position relative to the spurs as shown in l. The shank 6ft has a laterally projecting lug '-.72 with which engages a latch lll, corresponding to the latch i8 already described, by which, when desired, both the ejector is ifisefiei held in inoperative posit-ion andv the spurs are held spread in operative position, the upper end or the shank being then in engagement with shoulder Tl on the lever 14:.

lhe operation oit the mechanism has already beeii indicated but it will now be brieily describec as employed in transiterring articles of sticky material as just nieni However, it will be understood that the ejector G2 need not be'used in handling articles oit' non-sticking materials in which case the picker will have the construction shown in ig. 2.

The picker may be supported in the hand ot the operator or may be carried upon a moving part a machine connected to rod 4, the parts normally occupying the position shown iii Fig. l. ln using the picker, i brought down .into engagement with the tooniost ai Jlele 2 in a stack e. The spurs 6 come into engagenieiit'with the upper surtace ot the article are forced thereagainst with a considerable pressure, determined by the resistance or springs 2e.

and 38, that they penetrate the surface et the article. Continued movement of the red or slide .64- relative to the levers 14 forces wed iaces 32,- .spr aus the levers and the spurs apart, as s= i 2, and raises thek lips 2l, the :toot (S2 being pressed upward beyond the plane ot the edges Si or the spurs against the istance p iig TO. Finally, latch 455" snaps over the under surface oit lug 72 so that both the ejector is locked by latchv e8 iu inoperative position and also the spurs are .locked in spread or operas. Ye position. vThe picker is then lifted Yand with the article to be transierred is movel to t ie delive The article having leen lo- ,.tely abovethe surta-ce Ato be delivered and the stop above the abutment, at the trie picker is auto l or terms an element in .-o is tripped, either by 4 ieii'ient with abutmentt, gs 2a; andBSvto become operato vtheir innermost the lips 2l. while fin sp iris; tlirdws the foot to the spurs and pre- Hrein adhering to the spurs.

.rearing of the article from cc sanction illustrated, by reason er the tact that the ejecting toot acts under sudden irfipulse ot the spring 70 at a `l poi i upon the article relative to the ich it is by the -spurs. froivevert i AJicle is heavy and non adf may be relied on torethey spread apart 3 SQUCS aS of co Astruction without a special SO along the inclined surl l (i ejector, such as is shown in Fig. 2, will be suitable.

. ldechanism of the class described comprising', in :ombination, a plurality of spurs, carriers therefor movable about a common axis to carry the spurs tovvard or trom each other, yielding` means continuously tending to move the spurs in one direction relative to each other, and a Wedge tor moving them positively in the opposite direction.

2. Mechanism oit' the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality oit spurs, carriers therefor movable about a common axis to carry the spurs toward or from each other, a spring and a Wedge each acting upon both said carriers respectively to move them in opposite directions.

li/leffhanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of Spurs constructed and arranged to penetrate an article diagonally in opposite directions, carriers therefor movable about a common -fulcr im to carry the spurs toward or Yfrom each other, a spring constantly tending to move the spurs toward each other, a slide guided by said tulcrum and movable relative to the carriers and also provided with a Wedge l'or separating the spurs to cause them to impale an article presented thereto as the slide moved longitudinally oiC the carriers.

Ll. Mechanism ot the class described comprising, in combination, plurality 'oi' de vices for engaging an article, pair of levers carrying said devices, a pin on which the levers are pivoted, a slide having a slot to receive said pin and a Wedge to turn the levers about the pin as the slide is moved longitudinally relative thereto, and a. sprinof interposed betvveen a part oi the slide anc the ends ot said levers.

5. .ln a mechanism for transferring pieces of shoe bottom stock, tivo pairs or" diagonally arranged spurs G, a pair ot pivoted levers y carrying the spurs, a pivot pin 22, a slated slide 28, provided with a Wedge for moving said levers in one direction, and a spring 38, constructed and arranged-to aci; upon said slide and'b levers.

C. Mechanism ci" the class described compri ing, in combination, aplurality oll spurs, pivoted levers upon which the spurs are car' ried, yielding means constantly tending to move said spurs in one direction and a movable latch acting upon one of the levers to prevent the action of said yielding means when the latch is in operative position.

7. `=dechanism of the class described comin combination, a plurality of deengaging an article, a pair ot levers prisin fr carrying said devices, a slide to which the levers are pivot-ed with provision i'or longitudinal bodily movement of the slide relative to the levers, said slide being provided also with a Wedge i'orvmoving the levers in one direction, a spring constantly tending to move the levers in the opposite direction and a latch on the slide and acting when in operative position to prevent the action of said sprino'.

8. ln a mechanism for transferring pieces of shoe bottom stock, a carrier, a plurality of Spurs 6, mounted therein each ol Which has four faces tapering to a chisel edge 8, the spurs being constructed and arranged in the carrier so that their bottom faces engage the stock at a relatively small angle to the tace thereof.

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of spurs, means Jfor moving the spurs toward and from each other, a foot movable to and from a position in which it projects beyond the ends of the spurs and a movable latch 'for holding said toot in non-projecting position.

10. Mechanism ot the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of spurs, means for moving the spurs toward and 'from each other to hold or to release an article, a foot movable to and 'from a position in which it projects beyond the ends ot the spurs and a single movable latch for holding said foot in non-projecting position and the spurs in article-holding position.

l1. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of devices for engaging an article, a pair of pivotedlevers carrying said devices, a slide on which the levers are mounted to move longitudinally of the slide, a. toot also movable longitudinally relative to said levers, means constantly tending to move the toot to eject an article held by said devices and a single movable latch for holding the foot in inoperative position and the spurs in operative position.

l2. Mechanism for transferring pieces of shoe bottom stoclr comprising, in combination, a. plurality of spurs constructed and arranged to penetrate the stock diagonally in opposite directions, a pair of pivoted levers movable about a common anis to carry said spurs toward or from each other, a toot supported adjacent to said spurs on one of said levers but capable of limited movement relative to the lever, a latch for holding the toot in inoperative position and the spurs in operative position, and means acting automatically upon the release ot the latch to move the foot and spurs to eject a piece of stock impalcd upon the spurs.

13. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of devices for engaging an ai ticle, a pair ot levers carrying said devices, a support on Which "we leve'w' are. pvoefl., 2L slide carrying a wedge for 'turning the levers in one direction, and a Spring Constantly tending to tmn chem in the opposite direction.

i4. Mechanism of the class clescbd comprising, in combination? a plumlty of spurs,

a. pair olf 'plvo'tscl levers @amyng said spurs, :L fooi movable longltudmally relatlv to sind levers E0 and 'om a. @081151011 1n Whlch FREDEUUK M. FUR-BER. 

